March event celebrates 75 years of logging tradition

A grand celebration is slated for next month at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, as the Redwood Region Logging Conference celebrates its Diamond Jubilee. Perhaps by coincidence, the president of this year's event is Fortuna resident Dave Carter, an employee of Green Diamond Resource Company.

Carter's theme for this year's 75th annual gathering is "Celebrating our Families and Forests that Cultivate our Community." To highlight this milestone, local artist Kay Harden has created the 2013 RRLC poster, a tradition she and the conference started in 2001. Harden is well known for her intricately detailed work depicting local redwood forests. For the RRLC Diamond Jubilee poster, Harden selected an historic railroad logging scene from the Excelsior Lumber Company.

The conference will be held at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka on March 14, 15 and 16.

RRLC activities begin March 14 with Education Day, an onsite visit by Humboldt County schoolchildren to see current and historic logging equipment, forestry, and wildlife exhibits, meet some of the suppliers of the forest products industry, and much more. Admission to the fairgrounds is free; purchased tickets are required for some of the activities, such as beer and wine tasting, gin fizz breakfast, and the grand banquet and auction. Proceeds from the auction fund RRLC education programs including scholarships, field trips, and resource professional visits to schools.

Local schools are encouraged to participate in the mural contest, open to grades K through eighth. The deadline for submitting artwork is March 8. Students create artwork using the conference theme and compete for prizes. Each class will receive a cash participation award. Winning murals will receive cash awards. More information is available by calling RRLC at 443-4091 or by visiting www.rrlc.net

The conference is held in Eureka every other year. It offers an opportunity to learn first hand about the forest products industry and meet many of those who make a living from working in the woods. Next year, the conference returns to Ukiah.